Plastic optical element and optical scanner and imaging forming device including the same

ABSTRACT

A plastic optical element for an optical system of an optical scanner includes a plurality of optical effective portions through which a plurality of light beams transmit, respectively, formed on at least one of an incidence surface and an exit surface in a sub scan direction, and an optical ineffective portion formed between neighboring optical effective portions not to allow the light beams to transmit therethrough, and including an area in which a local contraction occurs at a time of resin molding.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is based on and claims priority from JapanesePatent Application No. 2011-201744, filed on Sep. 15, 2011, thedisclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a plastic optical element used in theoptical system of an image forming device such as a laser copier, laserprinter, facsimile machine, plotter, or complex machine with two or morefunctions. It also relates to an optical scanner including such aplastic optical element and an image forming device including such anoptical scanner.

2. Description of the Related Art

To adapt for high-speed image outputs, a tandem-type,electrophotographic full-color image forming device in which fourphotoreceptor drums are arranged with a certain interval has beenpopular.

In such a tandem type image forming device, the light beams from lightsources of an optical scanner or a laser write unit are deflected by asingle optical deflector to concurrently expose the surfaces ofphotoreceptor drums via respective optical scan systems and generatelatent images thereon. The latent images are visualized by develop unitscontaining four colors of toner and the four color toner images aretransferred onto a paper to form a full color image.

Recently, there have been demands for downsizing and cost reduction ofsuch a tandem type image forming device and an optical scanner. Forexample, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-15139discloses an optical scanner configured to make two light beams incidentobliquely on the surface of the optical deflector vertical to therotation axis and exit from a single optical system to converge on thesurfaces of two photoreceptor drums.

Thus, providing only two optical systems for four photoreceptor drumscan contribute to reducing the size of the optical scanner.

The optical scanner in the above document includes a combined opticalelement having two optical effective portions and one opticalineffective portion between the optical effective portions not to allowlight transmission. The optical effective and ineffective portions areset such that a distance from a line connecting the apexes of the twooptical effective portions to the apex of the optical ineffectiveportion on the sub scan cross section is to be 1.0 mm or less.

A plastic optical element having two optical effective portions and anoptical ineffective portion therebetween can be manufactured byinjection molding of melted resin into a mold cavity. During the coolingprocess of the injection molding, the surface of the plastic opticalelement is likely to be pulled toward the center with a relatively hightemperature due to resin contraction.

A part of the optical effective portions near the optical ineffectiveportion in sub scan direction is located closer to the center having ahigh temperature than the rest of the portions. Thus, this part of theoptical effective portions is largely affected by thermal contraction ofthe center area. Because of this, a large local contraction occurstherein, which may cause degradation in mold transferability.

FIG. 15A schematically shows the side surface of a plastic opticalelement 100 in sub scan direction. The plastic optical element includestwo optical effective portions 101, 102 and an optical ineffectiveportion 103 therebetween on an exit side. FIG. 15B is a graph showing aresult of measuring transferability error in the position of the opticalsurface in sub scan direction. The transferability error refers to adifference between the surface shapes of a mold and a molded product. InFIG. 15B the abscissa axis shows the position of the optical surface insub scan direction on the exit side (mm) while the longitudinal axisshows transferability error (mm). The position zero is the center of theoptical ineffective portion 103.

In FIGS. 15A, 15B, a shift in the position of the optical surface from amold to a molded product from the incidence side to the exit side isdefined to be positive. FIG. 15B shows that resin contraction increasesas the shift goes negative in the longitudinal axis. The transferabilityerror is negatively large around the optical ineffective portion 103,that is, the area D in FIG. 15B. It is confirmed that the contractionamount of about the portion 103 is larger than the rest of the surface.

FIG. 16A schematically shows the side surface of a plastic opticalelement 100 a in sub scan direction. The plastic optical elementincludes two optical effective portions 101 a, 102 a and an opticalineffective portion 103 a therebetween on an incidence side. FIG. 16B isa graph showing a result of measuring transferability error in theposition of the optical surface in sub scan direction. In FIG. 16B theabscissa axis shows the position in sub scan direction (mm) on theincidence side while the longitudinal axis shows transferability error(mm). The position zero is the center of the optical ineffective portion103 a.

In FIGS. 16A, 16B, a shift in the position of the optical surface from amold to a molded product from the incidence side to the exit side isdefined to be positive. FIG. 16B shows that resin contraction increasesas the shift goes positive in the longitudinal axis. The transferabilityerror is negatively large around the optical ineffective portion 103 a,that is, the area D in FIG. 16B. It is confirmed that the contractionamount of about the portion 103 a is larger than the rest of thesurface.

In FIGS. 15B, 16B at the transferability error being zero, the elementsurface is in an ideal state.

To further downsize the optical scanner, the length of the opticalineffective portion of the plastic optical element in sub scan directionneeds to be shortened. However, there is a problem that the opticalcharacteristics of a potion of the optical effective portions near theoptical ineffective portion deteriorates due to a decrease in moldtransferability, which leads to a degradation in beam spot shape on atarget scan plane.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to provide a plastic optical element whichcomprises a shorter-length optical ineffective portion disposed betweentwo optical effective portions and can maintain good opticalcharacteristics of the portion of the optical effective portions nearthe optical ineffective portion. It also aims to provide an opticalscanner and an image forming device incorporating such a plastic opticalelement.

According to one embodiment, a plastic optical element for an opticalsystem of an optical scanner comprises a plurality of optical effectiveportions through which a plurality of light beams transmit,respectively, formed on at least one of an incidence surface and an exitsurface in a sub scan direction, and an optical ineffective portionformed between neighboring optical effective portions not to allow thelight beams to transmit therethrough, and including an area in which alocal contraction occurs at a time of resin molding.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features, embodiments, and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description with referenceto the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 schematically shows the structure of an image forming deviceincluding an optical scanner according to a first embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are a flat view and a side view of the essential part ofthe optical scanner in main and sub scan directions, respectively;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the essential part of another example ofoptical scanner in sub scan direction;

FIGS. 4A, 4B are a flat view and a side view of an fθ lens of theoptical scanner in main and sub scan directions according to the firstembodiment, respectively;

FIG. 5 is a side view of another example of fθ lens in sub scandirection;

FIG. 6 is a graph showing the results of simulation and an actual moldin which a length of a local contraction near an optical ineffectiveportion was measured;

FIG. 7 shows heat discharge directions in the vicinity of the center ofthe fθ lens;

FIGS. 8A, 8B show the results of measuring transferability errors in theposition of the optical surface of the fθ lens in sub scan direction;

FIGS. 9A, 9B are graphs showing the transferability error represented bya function of the position in sub scan direction;

FIGS. 10A to 10C show three patterns of transferability error;

FIG. 11 shows a ghostly light which transmits through the opticaleffective portion of the fθ lens and reaches a target scan surface;

FIG. 12 is a side view of the essential part of an fθ lens in sub scandirection according to a third embodiment;

FIGS. 13A, 13B show a manufacturing method of the fθ lens according tothe third embodiment;

FIGS. 14A, 14B show another example of the manufacturing method of thefθ lens;

FIG. 15A is a side view of a prior art plastic optical element havingtwo optical effective portions and an optical ineffective portion onexit side and FIG. 15B is a graph showing the result of measuringtransferability errors in the position of the optical surface in subscan direction; and

FIG. 16A is a side view of a prior art plastic optical element havingtwo optical effective portions and an optical ineffective portion onincidence side and FIG. 16B is a graph showing the result of measuringtransferability errors in the position of the optical surface in subscan direction

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described indetail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible,the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to referto the same or like parts.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 schematically shows an image forming device comprising an opticalscanner according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Thepresent embodiment describes an example where the plastic opticalelement is used as an fθ lens of an optical system of the opticalscanner.

FIG. 1 shows a tandem type image forming device 1 as a full color laserprinter. A device body 2 includes four photoreceptor drums 3Y, 3M, 3C,3K arranged with a predetermined spacing, electric chargers 4Y, 4M, 4C,4K, develop elements 5Y, 5M, 5C, 5K, transfer elements 6Y, 6M, 6C, 6K,and cleaning elements 7Y, 7M, 7C, 7K disposed around the photoreceptordrums, respectively, and a no-end carrier belt 8 between thephotoreceptor drums 3Y to 3K and the transfer elements 6Y to 6K.

The carrier belt 8 is extended over a drive roller 9 and a driven roller10 to be rotated in the direction of the arrow X by the drive roller 9.A paper sheet S is attached onto the surface of the carrier belt 8 bystatic electricity by an electric charger 11 and carried.

A fuser 12 including a fuse roller 12 a and a pressure roller 12 b isdisposed at downstream of a paper forwarding direction near the drivenroller 10. An optical scanner 20 is provided above the photoreceptordrums 3Y to 3K to expose the surfaces (target scan surfaces) of thephotoreceptor drums 3Y to 3K with a laser beam on the basis of imageinformation.

The optical scanner 20 comprises a light source 21, an optical system 22(FIG. 2A), an optical deflector 23 as a polygon mirror, an fθ lens 24 asa plastic optical element, and mirrors 25. The optical scanner 20including the fθ lens 24 is described in detail later.

To form images with the image forming device 1, the surfaces of thephotoreceptor drums 3Y, 3M, 3C, 3K are uniformly charged by the electricchargers 4Y, 4M, 4C, 4K, respectively. Then, the surfaces thereof arescanned with a laser beam from the optical scanner 20 according to imageinformation input via a not-shown controller, to form electric latentimages.

The electric latent images on the photoreceptor drums 3Y to 3K aredeveloped by the develop elements 5Y, 5M, 5C, 5K and visualized as atoner image of four colors (yellow magenta, cyan, black).

Meanwhile, paper sheets S in a paper cassette 13 are fed one by one by afeed roller 14 and a carrier roller pair 15 and sent by a resist rollerpair 16 to the rotating carrier belt 8 at a certain timing. Then, thepaper sheet S is electro-statically attached on the surface of thecarrier belt 8 charged by the electric charger 11 and carried to thephotoreceptor drum 3Y along with the rotation of the carrier belt 8.

The yellow toner image on the photoreceptor drum 3Y is transferred to aportion between the photoreceptor drum 3Y and the transfer element 6Yconcurrently with the paper S, thereby transferring the yellow tonerimage onto the paper sheet S by the transfer element 6Y applied with atransfer bias. Likewise, magenta, cyan, black toner images on thephotoreceptor drums 3M, 3C, 3K are superimposed in sequence on the paperS to form a full color image.

The carrier belt 8 is applied with charge with reverse polarity by anelectric charger 17 to separate the paper S from the surface of thecarrier belt 8 and carry it to the fuser 12. The full color toner imageis fused on the paper S by applying heat and pressure to the paper S bya fuse nip between the fuse roller 12 a and the pressure roller 12 b.Then, the paper S is discharged to a paper tray via a discharge rollerpair 18.

FIGS. 2A, 2B are a flat view and a side view of the essential part ofthe optical scanner 20 in main and sub scan directions, respectively.Note that the main scan direction refers to a direction indicated by thearrow M in FIG. 2A in which a target scan surface A, that is, thesurface of the photoreceptor drum, is scanned with beam spots. The subscan direction refers to a direction orthogonal to the main scandirection.

The optical scanner 20 in FIG. 2A comprises the light source 21 as asemiconductor laser, the optical system 22 including a coupling lens 22a and a cylindrical lens 22 b, the optical deflector 23 as a polygonmirror, the fθ lens 24 as a plastic optical element, and opticalelements 26. The mirrors 25 in FIG. 1 are omitted from FIG. 2A, 2B.

The laser beam is emitted from the light source 21, converted into aparallel light by the coupling lens 22 a, converged in the sub scandirection by the cylindrical lens 22 b, and incident on the surface ofthe optical deflector 23. The coupling lens 22 a can be configured toconvert the laser beam to one with a low divergence or convergence.

Then, along with the rotation of the optical deflector 23 at equalangular velocity, the laser beam is equiangularly deflected by thesurface of the optical deflector 23, transmitted through the fθ lens 24and the optical elements 26, and reaches the target scan surface A. Thelight beam transmitted through the fθ lens 24 scan the target scanssurface A at equal velocity in the main scan direction. The fθ lens 24functions to convert the deflected light beam to form beam spots on thetarget scan surface A.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the fθ lens 24 includes, on exit side, two opticaleffective portions 24 a, 24 b arranged in the sub scan direction and anoptical ineffective portion 24 c between the optical effective portions24 a, 24 b. The optical effective portions 24 a, 24 b in convex form aredisposed to allow two laser beams L1, L2 to transmit therethrough andtravel to different scan surfaces A1, A2, respectively. Also, the laserbeams L1, L2 deflected by the optical deflector 23 are obliquelyincident on the other side of the fθ lens 24.

The optical deflector 23 can be configured to have two deflectionsurfaces to deflect the laser beams L1, L2 to be incident in parallel onthe optical effective portions 24 a, 24 b of the fθ lens 24,respectively, as shown in FIG. 3.

Thus, the single fθ lens 24 can be used for the two target scan surfacesA1, A2. Only two fθ lenses 24 are needed for the four photoreceptordrums 3Y, 3M, 3C, 3K of the tandem type image forming device.

Thereby, it is possible to reduce the number of fθ lenses to half fromtwo fθ lenses disposed in sub scan direction for two photoreceptor drumsof the prior art device, leading to downsizing the optical scanner andreducing the cost thereof.

FIG. 4A, 4B are a flat view and a side view of the fθ lens 24 in themain and sub scan directions, respectively. In the drawings the leftside of the fθ lens 24 (near the optical deflector) is a light incidenceside while the right side thereof (near the target scan surface) is alight exit side.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the fθ lens 24 made from resin includes, on theexit side, the two convex optical effective portions 24 a, 24 b and theflat optical ineffective portion 24 c therebetween in the sub scandirection. The surfaces of the optical effective portions 24 a, 24 bfrom which a laser beam projects are referred to as optical surfacebelow. The optical effective and ineffective portions can be provided onthe incidence side instead of the exit side.

Further, the fθ lens 24 can include ribs 24 d, 24 e outside the opticaleffective portions to protect the optical surface, as shown in FIG. 5.

As described above in the Background of the Invention section, for thepurpose of further downsizing the optical scanner, the length of theoptical ineffective portion 24 c in the sub scan direction has to beshortened. However, if the optical effective portions 24 a, 24 b includea local large contraction near the optical ineffective portion 24 c, themold transferability thereof is likely to lower.

Due to the lowered mold transferability, the convex shape of the opticaleffective portions 24 a, 24 b is undulated and different from anexpected shape. The undulated optical surface deteriorates waveaberration, resulting in deteriorating beam spot size on the target scansurfaces or the surfaces of the photoreceptor drums. Furthermore,depending on the positions of the optical effective portions 24 a, 24 bthrough which light transmits, field curvature occurs because of a localcurvature change and also degrades the beam spot size.

In view of the above, the fθ lens 24 is configured that the opticalineffective portion 24 c includes a large local contraction area, so asto prevent a degradation in the mold transferability of the portion ofthe optical effective portions 24 a, 24 b.

With resin contraction during the cooling process of injection moldingof the fθ lens 24 taken into account, the optical ineffective portion 24c is located near the center of the exit surface with a highertemperature than the rest of the surface, therefore, it is largelyaffected by thermal contraction. Because of this, a large localcontraction occurs around the portion of the optical effective portions24 a, 24 b close to the optical ineffective portion 24 c, leading tolowering the mold transferability.

Therefore, it is necessary to form the optical effective portions 24 a,24 b in an area less affected by the thermal contraction of the centeror free from local contraction. That is, the optical ineffective portion24 c needs to be formed to include the large local contraction area toprevent a decrease in the mold transferability.

Referring to FIGS. 4A, 4B, the optical ineffective portion 24 c of thefθ lens 24 is formed to have a length Y in the sub scan direction whichsatisfies the following relation (1):

Y>0.3(a*b)/(a+b)−1.1

where “a” is the thickness of the fθ lens 24 in the sub scan directionand “b” is the thickness thereof along the optical axis (hereinafter,thickness along the optical axis).

The above relation is described in detail. As apparent from FIG. 4B, thethickness “a” in sub scan direction is expressed by

a=Y+(e1+e2)

where e1 and e2 is the lengths of the surfaces of the optical effectiveportions 24 a, 24 b in sub scan direction, respectively.

Thus, when the lengths e1 and e2 of the optical effective portions 24 a,24 b and the thickness b along the optical axis are known, the length Yof the optical ineffective portion 24 c to set is found by the aboverelation (1).

The invertors of the present invention actually created, by injectionmolding, fθ lenses as shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B with different thicknessesin sub scan direction and thicknesses along the optical axis. They alsoconducted computer simulation to examine a length of local contractionaround the optical ineffective portion. FIG. 6 shows the results of theactual molding and the simulation.

In the abscissa axis of the graph in FIG. 6, (a*b)/(a+b) is a functionto represent the heat retaining tendency of the center 24 f of the fθlens 24 shown in FIG. 7. The longitudinal axis shows the length d oflocal contraction near the optical ineffective portion. As the heatretaining tendency (difficulty in heat radiation) inside the lensincreases, the influence of thermal contraction on the lens center 24Fincreases and so does the length of local contraction near the opticalineffective portion 24 c.

Accordingly, the length of local contraction near the opticalineffective portion is correlated with the heat retaining tendency ofthe lens center 24 f. The heat retaining tendency depends on the heatradiation of resin to a mold and the heat radiation depends on a lensshape. As shown in FIG. 7, heat radiates around the center 24 f of thefθ lens 24 in the sub scan direction and axial direction.

In FIG. 7 the temperature of the lens center 24 f exponentiallydecreases over time. The decrease time is proportional to (a*b)/(a+b)and the larger the decrease time, the higher the heat retaining tendencyof the lens center 24 f.

Further, when the thickness “a” in sub scan direction is 13.4 mm and thethickness “b” along the optical axis is 14.0 mm, the length “d” of alocal contraction around the optical ineffective portion is about 1.0mm, as shown in FIG. 8A. Also, when the thickness “a” in sub scandirection is 5.0 mm and the thickness “b” along the optical axis is 14.0mm, the length “d” is almost zero, as shown in FIG. 8B.

In the graphs of FIGS. 8A, 8B, the abscissa axis shows the position insub scan direction on exit surface while the longitudinal axis showstransferability error. The positive and negative sides of the graphscorrespond to the directions indicated by the arrows in the fθ lens inFIG. 6B. The zero position in sub scan direction is the center of theoptical ineffective portion.

From the results of the actual molding and simulation in FIG. 6, it isfound that a relation, the thickness “d”=0.3X−1.1 holds between thelength “d” of a local contraction and the function X(=(a*b)/(a+b)).

FIG. 9A is a graph showing the transferability error represented by thefunctions f1(x) and f2(x) of the position of the optical surface in subscan direction. The graph shows the positions H11, H21 in sub scandirection of the inflection points 11, 21 closest to the opticalineffective portion, both ends E1, E2 of the optical surface,transferability errors f1(x), f2(x) between the positions H11, H21 andboth ends E1, E2, and the maximal and minimal values of thetransferability error f1_max, f2_max, f1_min, f2_min, respectively.

The length “d” of a local contraction is defined to be a range of thepositions X in sub scan direction which satisfies either f1(x)≧f1_max,f2(x)≧f2_max or f1(x)≦f1_min, f2(x)≦f2_min. This is described in detailbelow, referring to FIG. 9A.

(1) The f1(x) is that the position X in sub scan direction ≧0. In therange of H11≦X≦E1, the maximal value f1_max is obtained at X=H11 whilethe minimal value f1_min is obtained at X=H12.

The range of the position X in sub scan direction satisfying eitherf1(x)≧f1_max or f1(x)≦f1_min is given by X≦d11 where d11 is the positionX at f1(x)=f1_min.

Thus, in the f1(x), the length d of a local contraction is given by theposition X≦d11.

(2) Likewise, in the f2(x) that the position X in sub scan direction ≦0,the length d is given by X≧d21.

Accordingly, the length d of a local contraction which occurs at theportion of the two optical effective portions near the opticalineffective portion is defined by d21≦X≦d11.

In FIG. 9B the transferability error around the optical ineffectiveportion is indistinctive. In such a case the transferability error in abroken line portion of f1(x), f2(x) can be estimated on the basis ofexisting error data obtained from experimental data to find the length dof a local contraction.

Note that FIG. 9A shows the cubic function of the transferability errorwith two inflection points. However, the order of function is notlimited thereto. For example, the length d of a local contraction can bealso found from the patterns of transferability error shown in FIGS. 10Ato 10C.

Further, the above is applicable to the plastic optical elementincluding the optical ineffective portion and two optical effectiveportions on incidence surface shown in FIG. 16A.

Referring back to FIG. 6 showing the results of the actual molding andsimulation, a local contraction occurred in an area a1. Therefore, ifthe optical surface is placed in this area a1, that is, the length Y ofthe optical ineffective portion is set to satisfy Y≦0.3(a*b)/(a+b)−1.1,a local contraction occurs in the portion of the optical surface nearthe optical ineffective portion and the mold transferability thereofdecreases.

Meanwhile, the area a2 in FIG. 6 is free from a local contraction.Accordingly, to prevent a decrease in the mold transferability, theoptical surface has to be placed in the area a2 or the length Y of theoptical ineffective portion has to be set to satisfyY>0.3(a*b)/(a+b)−1.1.

Thus, it is made possible to prevent a decrease in the moldtransferability of the optical surface of the fθ lens 24 and accuratelyform a lens shape by setting the length of the optical ineffectiveportion 24 c to satisfy the above relation (1). This can improve theoptical characteristics of the portion of the optical effective portions24 a, 24 b near the optical ineffective portion 24 c and improve theshape of beam spots on the target scan surface.

Accordingly, the image forming device 1 comprising the optical scanner20 with the fθ lens 24 can scan the surfaces of the photoreceptor drumswith beam spots of accurate shape and generate high-quality images.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 11 shows an fθ lens with two optical effective portions 24 a, 24 band an optical ineffective portion 24 c therebetween on an incidencesurface (close to the optical deflector 23).

The optical ineffective portion 24 c is subjected to processing such assurface roughening to have lower reflectivity than that of the surfacesof the optical effective portions 24 a, 24 b. The rest of theconfiguration of the fθ lens 24 is the same as that of the firstembodiment.

In FIG. 11 two light beams L1, L2 are reflected by the optical deflector23, and obliquely incident on the surface of the optical effectiveportions 24 a, 24 b, transmit through the optical effective portions 24a, 24 b and the optical element 26 and reach the target scan surfacesA1, A2.

A part of the reflected light beams by the optical deflector 23 isreflected by the surface of the optical ineffective portion 24 c. Areflected light beam L3 is incident on the optical deflector 23 andreflected thereby again to become a ghostly light reaching the targetscan surface A1 through the optical effective portion 24 a and theoptical elements 26. This ghostly light disadvantageously affectsscanning on the target scan surface A1.

Further, with the two optical effective portions 24 a, 24 b set with ashorter interval or a smaller fθ lens 24 in size, the ghostly light ismore likely to occur. However, the optical ineffective portion 24 c witha lower reflectivity can prevent the occurrence of ghostly light. Thismakes it possible to constantly scan the target scan surface A1 withprecision.

Third Embodiment

FIG. 12 shows an fθ lens 24 with concave portions 24 g, 24 h on bothsides (top and bottom surfaces in the drawing) in the sub scan directionaccording to a third embodiment. The rest of the configuration of the fθlens 24 is the same as that in the first embodiment. Note that a concaveportion can be provided on either of the surfaces.

Now, the manufacturing method of the fθ lens having the concave portions24 g, 24 h in FIG. 12 is described with reference to FIGS. 13A, 13B andFIGS. 14A, 14B.

FIGS. 13A, 13B show how to form a concave portion or incomplete transfersurface by applying compressed gas and incomplete transfer to resin atmolding.

In detail a cavity piece 30 to form surfaces including a non-transfersurface are formed with at least one air vent 31 and at least one port(not-shown) in communication with the air vent to apply compressed gasto a molded product. A compressed gas supplying machine (not shown) iscoupled with the communication port to create a pair of molds 35 havinga transfer surface 32 and at least one cavity 34 formed by a cavitypiece 33.

Then, the molds 35 are heated at less than a resin softeningtemperature, and a melted resin is filled into the mold by injection.The resin is closely attached onto the transfer surface 32 by generatingpressure from the resin. Then, when the melted resin is cooled down tothe resin softening temperature or less, the resin in the cavity 34 isapplied with compressed gas from the air vent 31 to forcibly form aspace 36 between the cavity piece 30 and the resin to create a concaveportion as shown in FIG. 13B.

Moreover, FIGS. 14A, 14B show how to form a non-transfer surface bysliding a cavity piece and incomplete transfer at molding.

In detail a cavity piece 37 to form a surface with a concave portion isslid to create the pair of molds 35 having the transfer surface 32 andat least one cavity 34 formed by the cavity piece 33.

Then, the molds 35 are heated at less than a resin softeningtemperature, and a melted resin is filled into the molds by injection.The resin is closely attached onto the transfer surface 32 by generatingpressure from the resin. Then, when the melted resin is cooled down tothe resin softening temperature or less, the cavity piece 37 is slid toseparate from the resin to forcibly form a space 38 between the cavitypiece 37 and the resin to create a concave portion as shown in FIG. 14B.

Likewise, the concave portion can be formed on the other surface in theabove manner. Thus, the fθ lens 24 as plastic optical element with theconcave portions 24 g, 24 h in FIG. 12 can be produced.

The concave portions 24 g, 24 h on both surfaces can help eliminateremnant inner pressure in the resin and inside distortion at molding tocreate resin-molded products with high precision. Furthermore, since theincomplete transfer portion becomes a concave portion in accordance withthe pressure from the resin, the inner pressure in the resin and insidedistortion can be prevented from occurring even in the portionssusceptible to these problems. Also, contraction occurs mostly on theconcave portion so that transferability error in the optical surface canbe decreased.

Accordingly, additionally provided with the concave portions 24 g, 24 hon both surfaces in sub scan direction, the fθ lens 24 can be shapedwith high precision. In particular, even fθ lenses in large thickness oruneven thickness can be produced from resin with high precision at aboutthe same costs as those of fθ lenses in small thickness.

Although the present invention has been described in terms of exemplaryembodiments, it is not limited thereto. It should be appreciated thatvariations or modifications may be made in the embodiments described bypersons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of thepresent invention as defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A plastic optical element for an optical systemof an optical scanner comprising: a plurality of optical effectiveportions through which a plurality of light beams transmit,respectively, formed on at least one of an incidence surface and an exitsurface in a sub scan direction; and an optical ineffective portionformed between neighboring optical effective portions not to allow thelight beams to transmit therethrough, and including an area in which alocal contraction occurs at a time of resin molding.
 2. The plasticoptical element according to claim 1, wherein the optical ineffectiveportion is set to have a length in the sub scan direction to satisfy thefollowing relation:Y>0.3(a*b)/(a+b)−1.1 where Y is the length, a is a thickness of theplastic optical element in the sub scan direction, and b is a thicknessof the plastic optical element along an optical axis.
 3. The plasticoptical element according to claim 1, wherein the optical ineffectiveportion is formed by surface processing to have a reflectivity lowerthan that of the optical effective portions.
 4. The plastic opticalelement according to claim 1, further comprising a concave portion on atleast either of two edge surfaces in the sub scan direction.
 5. Theplastic optical element according to claim 1, wherein the plasticoptical element is an fθ lens.
 6. An optical scanner comprising: aplurality of light sources; an optical deflector to deflect a pluralityof light beams emitted from the light sources; and an optical systemincluding the plastic optical element according to claim 1, to guide thelight beams to scan surfaces, respectively.
 7. An image forming devicecomprising: a plurality of photoreceptors; and the optical scanneraccording to claim 6, to scan and expose surfaces of the photoreceptors.